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Her 11-year-old daughter Malia plays football, while her husband Barack Obama is a keen basketball player who regularly works out in the gym.

At the launch last month of her Let's Move campaign, Mrs Obama said: "We're determined to finally take on one of the most serious threats to their future, and that's the epidemic of childhood obesity in America today."

Nearly one in five US children aged six to 19 are obese, which in technical terms mean they have a body mass index greater than 30.

In health terms, it means they are at greater risk of conditions including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and strokes.

"Our military leaders report that obesity is now one of the most common disqualifiers for military service.